BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team fell short in a 3-2 loss in game one of Saturday's doubleheader against Hardin-Simmons but was able to bounce back and secure a 6-3 win to take the series in Belton. The Cru moves to 2-1 overall and 2-1 in American Southwest Conference play and the Cowboys drop to 1-2 overall and 1-2 in the ASC with the split.
 
The Cru opened up scoring in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single by Ryan Farmer and a sacrifice fly by Rhett Grosz. UMHB was only able to get five baserunners the rest of the way, one of them coming in the bottom of the last inning with a chance to tie it. In the top of the second inning, the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys were able to cut the lead in half as the leadoff hitter drew a walk with the bases loaded. In the top of the fourth inning, The Cowboys would tie the game up at two-a-piece with a sacrifice bunt that scored in a run. In the same inning, HSU was able to single and get the go-ahead run for the Cowboys. Robert McCall was able to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single and would advance to second on an error. Sam Muniga, would pinch run for McCall and steal third to put the tying run 90 feet away with nobody out. However, the next three Crusader hitters were unable to get the run across, ending the last inning push. UMHB started Rahul Champaneri on the mound, his first start this season. Champaneri would allow three runs off of four hits while striking out six hitters through four innings of work. Alex Palczewski would come in and pitch the rest of the way allowing just two hits over three innings of efficient, shutout baseball. Champaneri would take the loss for the Cru to start his season off 0-1. Grant Mitzelfelt takes the win for the Cowboys moving him to a 1-0 record for the year after throwing a complete game. Farmer and McCall would have two hits each in the contest while Caimyn Holiday and Malek Bolin each split the other two.
 
The Cru were able to score early and often and never looked back in game two. Hardin-Simmons opened up scoring in the top of the first inning with an RBI groundout but an RBI single by Warren Sammons in the bottom half would tie the game at 1-1 for the Cru. In the bottom half of the second inning, Drake Herrera was able to get on base with a walk and find his way around the bases before scoring on a passed ball to give UMHB a 2-1 lead. In the top of the third inning, HSU would double home two runs to give the Cowboys a 3-2 lead but that would end the scoring for HSU. UMHB was able to answer in the bottom of the third with an RBI sacrifice fly by Malek Bolin and a two RBI single by Hunter Jones. UMHB would build on their 5-3 lead in the next inning as Staton Dudley was able to double home Rhett Grosz, making it a 6-3 ballgame. Starting on the mound for the Cru was Nicklas Fenner, making his collegiate debut. Fenner would earn his first career win and move to 1-0 on the year after throwing six innings giving up three runs on five hits. Cameron Bogan would come in relief for the Cru and earn the nine out save while recording five strikeouts and allowing just one hit in his three innings. Brandon Girod would take the loss for the Cowboys sliding to 0-1. Caimyn Holiday led the charge for the Cru going 3-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base while several other Crusaders added a hit.
 
UMHB will travel to Abilene next weekend to take on McMurry University in a three-game conference series starting Friday at 3pm and will finish that series the next day with a doubleheader beginning at 1pm.